An antioxidant, vitamin C is the skincare’s answer to illuminator: it guarantees good glow. But the perks don’t stop there: it’s also been shown to reduce redness and pigmentation; fight free radical damage and boost collagen production to boot.
The most effective form is ascorbic acid (keep your eyes peeled on products’ ingredients lists), but Vitamin C can also appear as sodium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl palmitate and retinyl ascorbate, among others.
Natural sources of Vit-C include citrus, kiwi fruit, berries, broccoli and capsicum, to name a few, but double down on your intake by incorporating a vitamin C serum into your morning skincare routine and your complexion will reward you with the kind of lit-from-within glow you assumed could only come from an Instagram filter. These are our favourites.
1. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum, $116, Mecca
As far as we're concerned, this is the Holy Grail of vitamin C serums. Containing an impressive 15 per cent ascorbic acid, plus fruit enzymes, hyaluronic acid and pumpkin ferment acid, it brightens, evens out skin tone and hydrates simultaneously. It's also free of synthetics like parabens, pthalates and fragrance. Read our detailed review here.
2. The Ordinary Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20%, $24.90, Adore Beauty
The Ordinary is beloved for bringing the world high-quality skincare at an affordable price point, and this serum is no exception: the vit-C is combined with essential fatty acids for a formula that's ideal for dry skin types.
3. La Roche-Posay Redermic C10 Anti-Ageing Serum, $69.95
Claiming to reduce wrinkles after just one week of use, this anti-ageing powerhouse by French pharmacy favourite La Roche-Posay is perfect for hydrating and brightening sensitive and mature skin types. It contains 10 per cent ascorbic acid.
4. Andalou Naturals Enlighten Serum, $29.99
Seeking out chemical-free skincare? Newly available in Australia, the Andalou range uses only natural (and many organic) ingredients. This vitamin C serum contains turmeric, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid and rosehip oil to hydrate and restore glow.
5. Skinceuticals C E Ferulic, $188
A true cult product, Skinceuticals C E Ferulic is beloved by beauty editors for its highly efficacious formulation - 15% ascorbic acid - combined with vitamin E and Ferulic acid to brighten and protect against free radical damage. Suitable for normal to dry skin types.
6. Ole Henriksen Truth Serum, $68, Sephora
Another cult favourite, this is a classic vitamin C serum that reviewers rave about.
